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Rawhide ’n Roses
(A Western Romance Anthology)
I am privileged to be associated with the very best of western writers and I know readers are going to be very impressed by the high quality of this work. The anthology came about from a comment I inadvertently made on a Western Romance Writer’s forum. From this comment the idea snowballed and I found myself nominated in charge of pushing the project forward. I cannot believe I am in such esteemed company and I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented authors.
Over the next 1 ½ months, the authors will be blog hopping to promote this anthology and their own work. I hope readers will keep an eye out on blogs and social media for the cover release and official book release.
The best part? The culmination of this hard work by so many talented people – The Anthology – will be a steal at just $1.99!
Sit back, grab a coffee and enjoy the excerpt from my short story:
Petticoat Patrol
by Susan Horsnell
“Sissy, for heaven’s sake. Stop that damn wagon!” Lily screeched at the top
of her voice. She crouched low over her galloping mare’s neck, reins in one
hand and mane grasped in the other. As she drew alongside the wagon, which
carried her sisters, she stood up in the stirrups and yelled again. “Stop that
wagon now or so help me…”
Melissa, also known as Sissy, pushed her feet down hard to balance as she
pulled back hard on the bay gelding’s reins. They all drew to a stop.
Lily lifted the hat from her head and swiped impatiently at the sweat on
her brow. It was so hot she thought, if the damn dog was chasing the cat,
they’d both be walking. “Why didn’t you stop when I called out?”
“How am I supposed to hear you with the sound of Buck’s hooves and these
two tittering in my ear?” Sissy retorted.
The ‘two’ she referred to, as she flung her arm in the air, were their
sixteen year old twin sisters – Amy and Emily. They had just discovered the
appeal of two local boys and had been excitedly chattering.
“Why are you here, anyways? You’re supposed to be helpin’ Ma put a basket
of food together. We gotta spend the night out with Pa watchin’ for rustlers
and you know we get hungry.” Sissy pouted. She hated it when she thought her
big sister was sent to watch over her. At eighteen years old she felt she was
more than capable of doing things without being ‘chaperoned’.
“Ma sent me because she forgot a couple of things when she wrote out the
list. It’s taken me all this time to catch up with you.”
“What else does she need?” Sissy enquired.
Lily pulled the list from her pocket and thrust it into her sister’s hand.
“I might as well come with you now. It’s only another mile to town and I can
help with the supplies.”
Sissy nodded before slapping the reins to get the big gelding moving. Lily
urged her mount forward and they began walking at a leisurely pace.
They were in sight of town when a loud crack heralded something had gone
terribly wrong on the wagon. Sissy brought Buck to a stop and glanced at her
older sister in despair.
As Lily dismounted, the other girls jumped from the wagon. While the older
two checked on the suspect wheel, Amy and Emily hovered nervously.
Lily crouched down and shook the wheel. It was looser than a whore in a
cathouse. “Almost snapped clean off the axle,” she grumbled as she pushed
herself to stand. “Sissy, unhitch Buck and we’ll walk the rest of the way. I’ll
drop the horses at the livery and see what I can do about getting it fixed
while you pick up the supplies.
Sissy did as requested and the girls began the short trek to town.
Sue Horsnell's BIO
I
was a Nurse, a career that spanned more than 35 years. During my career I
specialised in caring for people with Alzheimer’s type Dementia, an area that
fascinates me despite how heartbreaking it can be. My dear father-in-law is
unfortunately afflicted with this disease and now resides in a Nursing Home. In
the not too distant future I am hoping to pen a novel incorporating some of the
stories I have heard from these amazing people. Part of my career was with the
blind and I also cared for severely disabled children for a while too.
When
I retired 4 years ago I decided it was time to get the stories out of my head
and onto paper. From there I just hoped my stories were interesting and well
written enough to attract readers.
I
am married to the love of my life, we have 2 wonderful adult boys, and 5
amazing grandchildren. We also play substitute Mum and
Dad to a beautiful, adopted young lady. We reside in sunny Old, Australia in
the midst of a Blackbutt Forest. We are surrounded by the peace and quiet of
Mother Nature and wildlife abounds. It is a dream come true location for
us. For Image: http://authorcentral.amazon.com/gp/author/B00BXR5FMM
Blog: http://susanhorsnell.com
